Raheem Sterling Thrives in Central Role as Liverpool Move into League Cup Semis

A refreshing change for Liverpool supporters as they enjoyed a 3-1 win over Bournemouth in the League Cup quarter-final, with Raheem Sterling playing a starring role—scoring twice and leading the line expertly.

The 20-year-old opened the scoring following a superb 51-pass move, heading in Jordan Henderson's header back across goal from Lazar Markovic's cross.

It was then Markovic who doubled the lead shortly after, scoring his first goal for the club.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Sterling added a third soon after half-time, showing a clinical side to his game that was missing at Old Trafford just days ago.

However, he did fluff his lines when handed the perfect opportunity to complete his hat-trick from six yards out.

It showed that Sterling isn't the finished product—yet. But that it was too soon to write him off playing as a centre-forward based merely upon one performance in the role against Manchester United.

This was the youngster's ninth consecutive start, showing the reliance that Liverpool and manager Brendan Rodgers have placed upon him as the team have struggled for form.

Indeed, Sterling is Liverpool's most used player this campaign and has missed just one match this season, the last League Cup outing against Swansea City at Anfield.

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Most minutes played 2014/15 (inc Internationals): Sterling 2485 Cahill 2425 Matic 2393 Yaya 2348 Hart 2340 Ivanovic 2337 Henderson 2262

— Dan Kennett (@DanKennett) December 17, 2014"

Sporting a new look, Sterling showed that he can perform in the central role, expertly leading the line, dropping off into space, holding up the ball and playing in attacking midfielders Markovic, Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho.

At other times, he opted to find the ball in space and run at Bournemouth's centre-backs, on one occasion almost profiting again from a run from almost the halfway line.

This match was almost like the Liverpool of last season; showing excellent ball retention and dominance at times; finishing well and showing attacking intent; but still looking decidedly dodgy in defence.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

In the continued absence of Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool have lacked a centre-forward with pace—one to make runs in behind, drop deep and run at players, and genuinely threaten the opposition's back four.

Having given opportunities to Mario Balotelli and then Rickie Lambert, Rodgers finally opted to make Sterling his main man from half-time of last week's Champions League game against Basel.

He had previously tried Sterling upfront in the home tie with Real Madrid, alongside Balotelli, but scrapped that after going 2-0 behind.

It's a position Sterling has played before and did so alongside Luis Suarez to score his first goal for the club against Reading back in 2012.

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52 consecutive passes before Liverpool's opening goal. pic.twitter.com/mWqJzgCnqH

— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) December 17, 2014"

What playing Sterling upfront has also done, is give more room to other players to operate in midfield, by having a pacey forward to push the opponent's defence back.

What's disappointing, perhaps, is that it's taken Rodgers so long to give Sterling this central role, instead having ushered him out wide in recent weeks, where he has struggled to impact the game as much as last season when he shone operating centrally. Sterling as centre-forward is something many have suggested for some time.

Alas, this was against Championship opposition, and the true test will be against Arsenal on Sunday. Sterling had one of his best performances against Arsene Wenger's side last season at Anfield and hopefully he can continue where he left off against Bournemouth.